446 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



moisture. In the woods, it is often found blighted when the trees 

 have been cut from over it. 



This ends the list of trees and shrubs, but the smaller plants are 

 not necessarily of less importance. The strong trees are placed 

 first, because if the finer sentiments are not readily awakened the 

 big trees compel an impression of some sort. 



Under the protection of the trees — and no grove seems complete 

 without it — grows: 



GauI/THERIA Procumbens — L. (Wintergreen, or Tea Berry, or 

 Checker Berry). At the red school-house near the old Quaker meet- 

 ing'-house where I went to school, the boys used to go a mile at 

 noon time to get wintergreen for the girls. Whether to catch the 

 reflection of its crimson berries upon their cheeks or to perfume 

 their breaths with the young leaves, I do not know. 



AkctostaphyLOS ura ursi— Sprengel [Bear Berry) is a trailing^ 

 vine with durable, astringent, red berries. It prefers or rather, per- 

 haps, is crowded upon poor clay soils and inay be desirable to 

 cover clayey spots where little else will grow. It soinetimes forms 

 a dense mat like myrtle. 



I had wished to note all the evergreens, but the field is too large. 



The four species of l3^copodium that grow here must not pass 

 unmentioned. They are valuable for Christmas and other trim- 

 mings and in some of the Eastern cities are brought into market in 

 large quantities. 



There are many more among herbaceous plants that maj^ be de- 

 sirable to plant in suitable locations when arranging pleasure 

 grounds, especially upon the prairie; for what a pleasure it is for 

 prairie people whose homes were once in or near woods to find the 

 old friends of their childhood can be moved and will thrive in the 

 new location with thein. 



My little favorite the partridge berry, (MiTCHELLA REPENS Lin- 

 naeus) is saved to mention last. A common name, an humble plant, 

 a modest but beautiful trailing vine; but the sweetest of blossoms 

 and lasting pleasant fruit make it an easy kindness to hold it up for 

 admiration. 



Sorting Apples. — The ease and convenience in assorting apples 

 can be greatly enhanced by using a table constructed for the pur- 

 pose as follows: Length 7 feet, width S^^ feet, height 3 feet. The 

 top should consist of canvas or oilcloth securely nailed to the frame, 

 strips three inches wide of inch stuff, and, for convenience, openings 

 should be left in each corner large enough to admit a half bushel 

 basket. These rest on supports fastened to the legs of the table, 

 the latter being made three inches wide and two inches thick, all 

 well braced. The writer can vouch for the ease, comfort and facility 

 of the work performed by its aid, and could not be induced to return 

 to the tiresome, back-aching method of sorting on the ground. Not 

 being patented, they are free to all, and are truly a great acquisition, 

 not only in the apple orchard but are desirable for handling pears 

 and quinces as well. — Farm and Vineyard. 



